MGM Mirage It certainly ended up being a Black Friday for US-based gaming companies, but for reasons different than just a slow trading day. The troubles of Dubia World sent US casino company stocks tumbling Friday.

MGM Mirage is the company that is tied most closely to Dubai World. MGM and Dubai World are partners in the largest casino resort project in Las Vegas, the CityCenter.

While the project is not in danger of being stopped, MGM investors still backed off on Friday. The stock closed at $10.56, down $.45. That represented a 4.09% drop from the start of the trading day.

Other companies also fell with the fears that a recent resurgence in Macau could be slowed by the Dubai news. Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts both have casino interests in Macau, and their stock dropped 4.24%, and 3.66%, respectively.

Melco Crown Entertainment had a drop of 3.74%, closing the day at $4.12. Boyd Gaming was down to $8.29, a loss of 3.83%, and Pinnacle Entertainment fell 3.65%, to $10.55.

Good news for online poker players as Gambling911.com can reveal that the US Treasury Department is expected to delay implementation of regulations that would require banks to stop online poker and other gambling transactions via credit cards.

A number of high profile sources have informed Gambling911.com of this development.

UIGEA is short for the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act, passed in October 2008, which made some forms of online gambling illegal but exempted others such as horse racing and state lotteries. 

Banks and other financial institutions originally had until December 1st, 2009 to comply with the UIGEA rules. The new guidelines have become especially watered down in recent months.  Wires and bank checks are no longer mentioned as part of UIGEA.

The Poker Players Alliance (PPA) has been lobbying hard to delay the scheduled regulations and appear to have had some success on this front. 

A hearing on this matter is slated for December 3 but Gambling911.com has already learned that the postponement is "expected" according to our sources. 

Barney Frank’s office was expected to release a statement shortly. 

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher

I enjoy reading other poker player’s blogs. I like reading the thoughts of the younger guys and their problems because I’ve been through just about all of what they say. So when I read Daniel Negreanu’s blog about the fact that he was unsure of what he wanted to do with his life. I thought to myself it’s too late for that little buddy. You are a poker player and it’s too late in life to do anything else. I went through the same struggles and then one day woke up that nobody has as good a life as poker players. I particularly like Lee Watkinson’s blog as he says what he thinks. Everybody likes Lee’s controversial remarks as evidenced by all the comments at the bottom of his page. Enjoy being poker players guys.

December is right around the corner and that month has lots of bad memories for me, but also some great Christmas times. Chip Reese and Benny Binion both died in December along with a host of high school and college friends. Also, Dec. 7th is when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor where my Dad’s brother was killed. I’ve lived through lots of wars, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and the latest wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and I lost family and friends in the 1st three. We still have our freedom and have a lot to be thankful as Thanksgiving approaches for all the sacrifices our military forces have made.

I look like I’ve been in a fight. The dermatologist took off nine spots on my face. He froze eight and removed a skin cancer off my lip. Now I can enjoy the fun stuff this week. I go to the dentist for some implants and later I get a colonoscopy. Can’t wait!

Time marches on. That’s something every poker player has to be aware of. I try to monitor my play regularly because of my age. I’m lucky to still be hanging in there but as I’ve always said, poker players tend to lose at least part of their game after reaching the age of 50. Even though I won 16 straight in TV cash games, I seem to have reverted to a defensive style of play that I’m not comfortable with. Even though the way your opponent plays dictates the way you play, I’ve found myself not following my instincts as I’ve always done.

The truth is some of these "pros" play so bad in these games it’s hard to lose. More importantly, it seems I’m almost breaking even in the big cash games at the Bellagio.

Are today’s players better than the old timers? Nah, different but not better. I’ve always advised people to play at the level you can win at. I’m not sure I can move down and play in the smaller games. I’m going to give myself plenty of time, but if I don’t win in 2010, I’m gonna do it.

Play with Doyle in the only online poker room he plays in with all his celebrity friends – Doyles Room.  Claim your FREE CASH BONUS HERE

Doyle Brunson, Gambling911.com 

Newest addition to Team UB  Joe Sebok and longtime poker journalist Scott Huff  debut  tonight at the helm of Poker2Nite, Fox Sports Net’s ("FSN") hottest new weekly poker news program. Pull up a chair every Wednesday at 11pm EST to share all the behind-the-scenes fun and action of the poker world as you’ve never seen it before. Miss it the first time, and you  can catch it again on Thursdays at 4pm and Fridays at 11am and 6pm ET, or visit www.ub.net for full viewing of the show.

Poker2Nite is a ‘fly on the wall’ perspective set to deliver the week’s breaking poker headlines, so expect it to be relevant, and above all, always highly entertaining. Enjoy the same high-level energy and hi-jinx from the co-hosts that built them a loyal following as radio’s foremost poker authorities.

"Poker2Nite’s mission is to create something that hasn’t existed in the poker community yet:  a unique poker TV show that takes fans into our world, seen through our eyes, and in our voice.  Experience poker the way we do – with excitement, wit and a keen sense of humor. We’re creating our own little club, but all you have to do to gain access is love poker along with us. It’s going to be a wild ride so get on board," said Poker2Nite linchpin Joe Sebok.

The ‘Seebs’ and Huff dynamic is genius casting at its finest, as the co-anchors are renowned for only ever agreeing to disagree. Watch the PokerRoad.com pair make the move to the small screen to debate the latest news stories  and events from around the felt, be it live or the virtual kind.

Plus, the on-camera profile gets a glamorous touch up with the addition of popular poker reporters Lacey Jones and Dana Workman.  A familiar TV sitcom face, Dana will present a segment titled The Weekly Misdeal, while Lacey will hit the road as roving reporter in a regular spot We’ll Do It Live! , which deals  out the scoop on the real men and women in poker’s land based pro circuit.

Other recurring segments include exclusive guest interviews, Talk Soup, Classic Hands v2.0,  and Check, Raise, Fold?, tipped to quickly become an audience favorite as the co-hosts in the know banter about what’s hot and what’s not in the fickle world of poker.

To celebrate the launch of the poker show, presenting sponsor UB.net is hosting a series of daily, easy and free to enter online Poker2Nite Freerolls, scheduled between 8am and 2am ET and running every two hours. Finish in the top 125 in any of the daily freerolls to qualify for the massive Main Event on Sunday at 4pm ET.

Go on to grab a spot in the top 500 in the weekly Main Event for a share of some fabulous Poker2Nite Freeroll prizes, including tournament entries and Step tickets that lead to major online and live events. Compete for over $20,000 in tournament entries each month and chances to win hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizemoney every week in the UB.net Poker2Nite Freerolls.

Find out more about the cast and watch the latest Poker2Nite videos on www.ub.net/poker-promotions/poker2nite

About UB.net

Raise. Stack. Own. Built for the aspiring poker player, UB.net offers top poker rewards, optimal tournament structures and fast-paced action games in one of the largest online poker communities in the world. Players can download the free poker software, play in free ring games and tournaments, plus meet and chat online with Phil Hellmuth and other Team UB pros to learn and enhance their playing strategy. UB provides the best poker games available on the net as part of the CEREUS poker network.

Only days after the New York Yankees clinched the 2009 World Series title by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies, leading online sportsbook and casino Bodog.com has released odds on who will win baseball’s top prize next year.

Not surprising, the Yankees lead the list at odds of 10/3 followed by the New York team’s American League East rivals, the Boston Red Sox, at 6/1.

Despite its loss last week, Philadelphia is listed at odds of 8/1 with Bodog.com to win the 2010 World Series while the Los Angeles Dodgers are 10/1. The other Los Angeles team, the Angels, have been joined by the St Louis Cardinals at 12/1 while punters can get odds of 14/1 on the Colorado Rockies.

Due for improvement next season, the San Francisco Giants are listed at odds of 16/1 while the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers are 20/1. The Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers could be worth a gamble at 25/1 while the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox follow close behind at 28/1.

Teams not expected to be in the hunt next season for the World Series title include the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers at odds of 40/1 while the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres are 50/1.

The Washington Nationals finished with the worst record this season and Bodog.com is giving odds of 150/1 that this franchise will win the World Series. It is joined by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles while the Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Indians and Arizona Diamondbacks are not far off at 100/1.  

The Cash Dash at Paddy Power Casino is unlike no other tournament at any online casino – simply play your favourite online casino games to earn points which will rank you on their leaderboard! The top 20 players on the leaderboard will win a share of £15,000!

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The tournament is running until the 16th of November, so make sure that you get involved over the weekend to be in for a chance of the £10,000 prize or a share of the £5,000 runners up amount!

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